I stole this survey from My Spring Snow because I just can't resist a survey...
(1) Your Cell Phone? Red
(2) Your Hair? Blonde
(3) Your Mother? Crazy
(4) Your Father? Stoic
(5) Your Favorite Food? Pizza
(6) Your Dream Last Night? Hehehe
(7) Your Favorite Drink? Dr. Pepper (bet you thought I'd say coffee, didn't ya?)
(8) Your Dream/Goal? Love
(9) What Room Are You In? Mine
(10) Your Hobby? Reading
(11) Your Fear? Birds
(12) Where Do You Want To Be In Six Years? Elsewhere
(13) Where Were You Last Night? Apartment
(14) Something That You Aren't? Old
(15) Muffins? Nickname (thank you, mother!)
(16) Wish List Item? Yankees
(17) Where Did You Grow Up? Tulsa
(18) Last Thing You Did? Dressed
(19) What Are You Wearing? Sweater-dress
(20) Your TV? Off
(21) Your Pets? Deceased (Poor Patch)
(22) Friends? Good
(23) Your Life? Precipice
(24) Your Mood? Energized
(25) Missing Someone? Yes
(26) Vehicle? Liberty
(27) Something You Aren't Wearing? Makeup
(28) Your Favorite Store? Starbucks
(29) Your Favorite Color? Red
(30) When Was The Last Time You Laughed? Monday
(31) Last Time You Cried? Snow
(32) Your Best Friend? Someone
(33) One Place You Go To Over And Over Again? School
(34) Facebook? Blah.
(35) Favorite Place To Eat? Tacos
I hope you learned something useful about me from all of that. It was hard to stick to one-worded answers!
09 February 2010
30 January 2010
Snow
It snowed again on Thursday. Actually, it sleeted/freezing rained for several hours and then it started snowing. I was very grateful for the two days off of school that I wound up getting. I used them to my full advantage. Or at least I tried to. I'm all caught up in one of my history classes. I'm not really behind in Grammar. And I'm fairly close to catching up in the other 3.
Last night I made myself an amazing spaghetti sauce. I had to use fresh mozz because the shredded mozz had molded a bit...and the rest tasted funky. But oh! The sauce! I feel bad for my friend because of how long I went on about how good the sauce was. It pretty much got to the point where he disregarded the comments and continued his own conversation. This friend and I work well like that. I also opened a bottle of wine and drank a glass. It was all so lovely.
And then the rain came. Or more accurately the tears and the being prostrate on the dining room floor for a bit came. After a few minutes, I pulled my stuff together. I don't know why it happened but it felt good to just cry for a bit. I washed some dishes, did some tidying. I was in my room and I got so angry for some reason. Angry and sad. I turned on "Late Night, Early Town" by Lloyd Cole while I cleaned a bit. Then "Turpentine" by Brandi Carlile came on and I sang along.
Suddenly, the urge to get out of the apartment and walk around in the snow became simply overpowering. I pulled on my boots and coat and other cold weather accoutrements, grabbed my keys and my phone, and I left. It was dark and still lightly snowing. And I walked around my apartment complex and talked to my friend. It was my own private winter wonderland out there. I wish I had been in a neighborhood so I could have kept walking.
As I came inside, I realized that that walk was just what I needed at the moment. I felt infinitely better about every mysterious thing that was making me feel bad. I could have kept walking, but I didn't want to be greedy. Maybe someone else needs the snow too.
So I climbed into bed and read some of Sylvia Plath's journals. Then I moved onto 1776, which seems like it's going to be really good. I bought a couple more books yesterday from Amazon. One on World War I (The First World War by John Keegan), one on the Civil War (The Civil War: A Narrative--Fort Sumter to Perryville, Vol. 1 by Shelby Foote) and Whitman: Poetry and Prose. I'm definitely looking forward to all of them, but especially the Civil War book because it's going to be a popular history, which is something I want to do when I grow up.
I think after last night, I'm turning over a new leaf about snow. It really should be enjoyed because it's so beautiful and magical. A blanket covering the ground, keeping everything warm. Yes, the snow days are a great excuse for getting caught up or ahead on my work. But, even more importantly, I should make time to enjoy the outdoors. Snow is beautiful. I do love the rain. Nothing can beat a sunny day. So that's my new goal for myself--enjoy the weather that's going on, even if I have to stand in the window and sip coffee rather than be outside in it--for just a few minutes a day.
Last night I made myself an amazing spaghetti sauce. I had to use fresh mozz because the shredded mozz had molded a bit...and the rest tasted funky. But oh! The sauce! I feel bad for my friend because of how long I went on about how good the sauce was. It pretty much got to the point where he disregarded the comments and continued his own conversation. This friend and I work well like that. I also opened a bottle of wine and drank a glass. It was all so lovely.
And then the rain came. Or more accurately the tears and the being prostrate on the dining room floor for a bit came. After a few minutes, I pulled my stuff together. I don't know why it happened but it felt good to just cry for a bit. I washed some dishes, did some tidying. I was in my room and I got so angry for some reason. Angry and sad. I turned on "Late Night, Early Town" by Lloyd Cole while I cleaned a bit. Then "Turpentine" by Brandi Carlile came on and I sang along.
Suddenly, the urge to get out of the apartment and walk around in the snow became simply overpowering. I pulled on my boots and coat and other cold weather accoutrements, grabbed my keys and my phone, and I left. It was dark and still lightly snowing. And I walked around my apartment complex and talked to my friend. It was my own private winter wonderland out there. I wish I had been in a neighborhood so I could have kept walking.
As I came inside, I realized that that walk was just what I needed at the moment. I felt infinitely better about every mysterious thing that was making me feel bad. I could have kept walking, but I didn't want to be greedy. Maybe someone else needs the snow too.
So I climbed into bed and read some of Sylvia Plath's journals. Then I moved onto 1776, which seems like it's going to be really good. I bought a couple more books yesterday from Amazon. One on World War I (The First World War by John Keegan), one on the Civil War (The Civil War: A Narrative--Fort Sumter to Perryville, Vol. 1 by Shelby Foote) and Whitman: Poetry and Prose. I'm definitely looking forward to all of them, but especially the Civil War book because it's going to be a popular history, which is something I want to do when I grow up.
I think after last night, I'm turning over a new leaf about snow. It really should be enjoyed because it's so beautiful and magical. A blanket covering the ground, keeping everything warm. Yes, the snow days are a great excuse for getting caught up or ahead on my work. But, even more importantly, I should make time to enjoy the outdoors. Snow is beautiful. I do love the rain. Nothing can beat a sunny day. So that's my new goal for myself--enjoy the weather that's going on, even if I have to stand in the window and sip coffee rather than be outside in it--for just a few minutes a day.
22 January 2010
Loss
I feel kind of at a loss for words. I definitely appreciate the comments that have been left on my blog; they've definitely helped convince me that people actually are reading this thing. I didn't get all of my work done; not by a long shot. Then again, I don't think I really, in my heart of hearts, expected to. And that's fine. It was nice to lay everything out and see all of the possibilities. It's nice in general to lay out the possibilities, so that way you don't miss something.
I'm rambling. I really am at a loss for words, but I definitely wanted to get something out into the world.
I hit a roadblock with The French Lieutenant's Woman. As usual, it wasn't that I didn't like it; I just wasn't that into it. And when my reading time is so scarce, I need something that just grabs me and won't let go. So I've started For Whom the Bell Tolls. I felt like I needed a bit of Hemingway in my life. I think he simply must be my favorite writer. I love his style. His stories grip me and make me want to grab a little notebook and travel the world. He was a man when men were men and I admire that.
What really hit me was the bit (Meditation 17) at the beginning by John Donne...my favorite poet:
No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were. Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee...
I'd heard snippets of this before. (Hell, I've probably heard the whole thing before, but I didn't pay much attention) I love it! The metaphysical poets were really fantastic.
I finished my journal last weekend and I began writing in the new one that Matt got me for Christmas. I really like the new one. But, naturally, I feel a certain nostalgia for the old one. Looking back at the past entries made me realize a lot of things about forgiveness. But most importantly I have to forgive my past self. In spite of, or maybe because of, the mistakes she made, things have turned out really well for me. I have amazing friends. And, except for the day to day bit, my life as a whole is actually interesting and not ordinary. (Oh, how I hate that word)
I'm rambling. I really am at a loss for words, but I definitely wanted to get something out into the world.
I hit a roadblock with The French Lieutenant's Woman. As usual, it wasn't that I didn't like it; I just wasn't that into it. And when my reading time is so scarce, I need something that just grabs me and won't let go. So I've started For Whom the Bell Tolls. I felt like I needed a bit of Hemingway in my life. I think he simply must be my favorite writer. I love his style. His stories grip me and make me want to grab a little notebook and travel the world. He was a man when men were men and I admire that.
What really hit me was the bit (Meditation 17) at the beginning by John Donne...my favorite poet:
No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were. Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee...
I'd heard snippets of this before. (Hell, I've probably heard the whole thing before, but I didn't pay much attention) I love it! The metaphysical poets were really fantastic.
I finished my journal last weekend and I began writing in the new one that Matt got me for Christmas. I really like the new one. But, naturally, I feel a certain nostalgia for the old one. Looking back at the past entries made me realize a lot of things about forgiveness. But most importantly I have to forgive my past self. In spite of, or maybe because of, the mistakes she made, things have turned out really well for me. I have amazing friends. And, except for the day to day bit, my life as a whole is actually interesting and not ordinary. (Oh, how I hate that word)
16 January 2010
First Week
I survived my first week...of my last semester as an undergrad, mind you. I'm going to be very busy, but I think it will be really, really good in the end. I'm taking 18 hours and for some reason all 4 history courses that I'm taking have required daily reading. That's never happened before! I'm taking one lit course and Grammar to finish up my English degree. All that I'll have to do in the summer is take a 4 hour lab science course and then I officially get both of my degrees.
Despite the copious amount of reading, which I'm determined to not let affect my life and my pleasure reading, I'm really excited about all of my courses. Tudor-Stuart England, Food in Preindustrial Europe, Media and Pop Culture in the Middle East, English Grammar, History of the Best Seller and the Book, and Western Civ to 1500. (OK, maybe I'm not hugely excited about Western Civ, but it's that course that makes the difference between my getting just a second major and a second degree)
As far as reading goes, I've finished 2 books this year, both of which count for MamaShepp's Gilmore Challenge. I'm about to start two books that don't count for the Challenge, but I'm really looking forward to readin. Over the next eight weeks, I'm reading Middlemarch with a group of friends. Ironically, we'll finish in the middle of March. I'm going to be reading The French Lieutenant's Woman for my own pleasure. For a while I've been wanting to read an amazing love story, but I just couldn't get into any. Hopefully this can sate that wish. After I finish that, I have no idea what I'll read next. I'm just hoping I can finish The French Lieutenant's Woman in a week or so, because I have picked out 62 books that I want to read on my own this year.
Once I get my homework under control, I definitely need to start dancing again. I had so much fun doing that (and I loved losing weight too). My friend and I are going to start walking the "lake" soon, which is about 2 or 3 miles around. (Maybe more; I haven't walked it since my freshman year and I did it only once) I know I don't officially have to worry about it until February, but I think I'll be giving up sleep for Lent so that I can do all of these things. No, I know that I can do them all and still sleep...I'm just going to have to start on task and not get distracted. I don't know what I'd be distracted by anyway.
OK...time to hit the books.
Despite the copious amount of reading, which I'm determined to not let affect my life and my pleasure reading, I'm really excited about all of my courses. Tudor-Stuart England, Food in Preindustrial Europe, Media and Pop Culture in the Middle East, English Grammar, History of the Best Seller and the Book, and Western Civ to 1500. (OK, maybe I'm not hugely excited about Western Civ, but it's that course that makes the difference between my getting just a second major and a second degree)
As far as reading goes, I've finished 2 books this year, both of which count for MamaShepp's Gilmore Challenge. I'm about to start two books that don't count for the Challenge, but I'm really looking forward to readin. Over the next eight weeks, I'm reading Middlemarch with a group of friends. Ironically, we'll finish in the middle of March. I'm going to be reading The French Lieutenant's Woman for my own pleasure. For a while I've been wanting to read an amazing love story, but I just couldn't get into any. Hopefully this can sate that wish. After I finish that, I have no idea what I'll read next. I'm just hoping I can finish The French Lieutenant's Woman in a week or so, because I have picked out 62 books that I want to read on my own this year.
Once I get my homework under control, I definitely need to start dancing again. I had so much fun doing that (and I loved losing weight too). My friend and I are going to start walking the "lake" soon, which is about 2 or 3 miles around. (Maybe more; I haven't walked it since my freshman year and I did it only once) I know I don't officially have to worry about it until February, but I think I'll be giving up sleep for Lent so that I can do all of these things. No, I know that I can do them all and still sleep...I'm just going to have to start on task and not get distracted. I don't know what I'd be distracted by anyway.
OK...time to hit the books.
09 January 2010
Back
I took a long, unexpected hiatus from the blogging world. It just kind of happened. Every time I thought about blogging over the break, I just couldn't think of anything worth saying. But now that I'm back at my apartment, I feel the need to start blogging again. Especially because I said I would blog about my reading.
It took me a while to find a book and get interested in it once the new year started. I tried reading Swann's Way, but whenever I'd go to read I couldn't concentrate and I just didn't really feel like putting forth the effort. Finally, finally I decided to start Slaughterhouse-Five. (It is, after all, on my reading for global domination list as well as MamaShepp's Gilmore Reading Challenge list) I've really enjoyed it so far and I have about 75 pages to go. I plan on finishing tonight.
Also after the new year started, I began going through my old magazines and the millions of articles I'd torn out of magazines over the years for various reasons. I began with the intention of keeping only the recipes that I would actually make, then I added the workouts that I would actually do, then I threw in crafts and words of wisdom. My new goal is to accomplish everything in the binder by the end of the year. Try all of the recipes, make all of the crafts, start doing the workouts. I'm pretty excited...I just need to start doing.
Once I got back to my apartment, I decided to reorganize my bookshelves. While going through, I picked out 62 books that I want to read this year. I am going to try to read all of them. I put them all on the shelf in my room. The other books are in the living room. But if I'm not planning on reading them this year, why are they still here? I've no idea. I'll figure it out eventually.
Lastly, I discovered the way I like to eat apples. I must first peel them and then cover them in peanut butter. There's just something about the peels that I don't like. I'm one of those people to whom texture is very important. It makes sense because I don't like the peel on my peaches or nectarines either.
I guess that's about all for now...I'm hoping to get into the habit of blogging regularly again, but we'll see.
It took me a while to find a book and get interested in it once the new year started. I tried reading Swann's Way, but whenever I'd go to read I couldn't concentrate and I just didn't really feel like putting forth the effort. Finally, finally I decided to start Slaughterhouse-Five. (It is, after all, on my reading for global domination list as well as MamaShepp's Gilmore Reading Challenge list) I've really enjoyed it so far and I have about 75 pages to go. I plan on finishing tonight.
Also after the new year started, I began going through my old magazines and the millions of articles I'd torn out of magazines over the years for various reasons. I began with the intention of keeping only the recipes that I would actually make, then I added the workouts that I would actually do, then I threw in crafts and words of wisdom. My new goal is to accomplish everything in the binder by the end of the year. Try all of the recipes, make all of the crafts, start doing the workouts. I'm pretty excited...I just need to start doing.
Once I got back to my apartment, I decided to reorganize my bookshelves. While going through, I picked out 62 books that I want to read this year. I am going to try to read all of them. I put them all on the shelf in my room. The other books are in the living room. But if I'm not planning on reading them this year, why are they still here? I've no idea. I'll figure it out eventually.
Lastly, I discovered the way I like to eat apples. I must first peel them and then cover them in peanut butter. There's just something about the peels that I don't like. I'm one of those people to whom texture is very important. It makes sense because I don't like the peel on my peaches or nectarines either.
I guess that's about all for now...I'm hoping to get into the habit of blogging regularly again, but we'll see.
08 December 2009
Baby, It's Cold Outside...
...and it's going to get even colder. The high for today is predicted to be 41...which is 5 degrees lower than it was predicted to be when I looked last night...and it's supposed to be rainy. The high for tomorrow, you know, when I have a 10:00 final, is 29. The low for tomorrow night (as in the night between Wednesday and Thursday) is 13...because I have to wake up for an 8:00 final on Thursday. I'm sorry, but that's just too cold for it to not even snow. If it's going to be that cold, it had better freaking snow. Alas no! It's supposed to be sunny.
The weather is obviously not even remotely close to being my friend right now.
Also, I'm not even remotely close to being in the Christmas spirit and that holiday is coming at me like a freaking freight train.
One thing I am looking forward to about the Christmas vacation is going on walks in the neighborhood. Wearing my lovely red coat, of course. I did it a few times last year, except I was doing it with the hope of losing weight, so it wasn't very enjoyable. But this year I'd like to walk leisurely and enjoy the sights and the sounds.
I'm also looking forward to the first snow so that I can go on a snow walk. I got the idea from Gilmore Girls. You bundle up (I'll wear my lovely red coat), grab a thermos of hot chocolate or coffee, and walk around at night in the snow. I like the snow, despite hating the cold. It's like a blanket covers everything. The world looks peaceful and cozy.
On the finals front: I have 5 papers down and 4 papers to go. And I have 0 tests down and 3 to go. I have hopes of getting one more paper done today because I have a French study group at 6 this evening. And the three that will be left aren't due until Friday. My mother has graciously volunteered to try typing my papers while I dictate them over the phone. Maybe it will work well, maybe it won't. We just need to wait a bit for her eyes to un-dilate...
The weather is obviously not even remotely close to being my friend right now.
Also, I'm not even remotely close to being in the Christmas spirit and that holiday is coming at me like a freaking freight train.
One thing I am looking forward to about the Christmas vacation is going on walks in the neighborhood. Wearing my lovely red coat, of course. I did it a few times last year, except I was doing it with the hope of losing weight, so it wasn't very enjoyable. But this year I'd like to walk leisurely and enjoy the sights and the sounds.
I'm also looking forward to the first snow so that I can go on a snow walk. I got the idea from Gilmore Girls. You bundle up (I'll wear my lovely red coat), grab a thermos of hot chocolate or coffee, and walk around at night in the snow. I like the snow, despite hating the cold. It's like a blanket covers everything. The world looks peaceful and cozy.
On the finals front: I have 5 papers down and 4 papers to go. And I have 0 tests down and 3 to go. I have hopes of getting one more paper done today because I have a French study group at 6 this evening. And the three that will be left aren't due until Friday. My mother has graciously volunteered to try typing my papers while I dictate them over the phone. Maybe it will work well, maybe it won't. We just need to wait a bit for her eyes to un-dilate...
05 December 2009
Idea
I love it when I get a brilliant beyond brilliant idea out of the blue. It's like a flood of amazingness suddenly engulfs me a fair number of times. Other times, it's like a see a little teeny, tiny light in the distance and zoom! it becomes big and huge and bright. Today, I experienced the teeny light zooming kind of idea...
Maybe I mentioned this in a previous post (I don't remember and I'm too lazy to check) but my friend and I compiled a massive list of books to read. Literally, over 200. And honestly, it's closer to 300. I'm thinking that I'll use this blog to chronicle this quest for world domination. Because once we finish reading all of these books, we're going to be able to do a lot of things and very possibly, we could take over the world. You know, after we go to Paris to reward ourselves for being awesome. So, obviously, I won't be finishing a book a day or really even a book a week (knowing myself). So, I will continue with the randomly written posts. But I'm also going to talk about the books.
I'll even post a list of the official canon and put the date of completion for the books (We have an unofficial canon that will be all of the books we didn't think to add before sealing the official canon; books read from the unofficial canon won't count towards massages, pedicures, and Paris) so that you at home can track my progress.
Over Christmas break or holiday break or whatever we're calling it today (like I really care what the PC term for it is; PC is such a ridiculous joke) we have four books that we're going to read. We each chose two so that it would be fair. My friend chose Nine Stories by Salinger and The Razor's Edge by Maugham. I chose Swann's Way by Proust and Tropic of Cancer by Miller. (Funny story about Tropic of Cancer...I bought my copy and took it to my grandparents' house to read. It took me a while to realize what the cover picture was. After I realized it, I put the book away so I wouldn't get into trouble. My friend noticed it right away and was almost afraid to buy the book because people in small towns talk. This has since become a running joke between us.)
I guess I'll model my talking about the books on the Rory Gilmore Books Project blog. I really wish I could devote all of my energies to a project like this. But alas! I have school and homework (always homework!).
Maybe I mentioned this in a previous post (I don't remember and I'm too lazy to check) but my friend and I compiled a massive list of books to read. Literally, over 200. And honestly, it's closer to 300. I'm thinking that I'll use this blog to chronicle this quest for world domination. Because once we finish reading all of these books, we're going to be able to do a lot of things and very possibly, we could take over the world. You know, after we go to Paris to reward ourselves for being awesome. So, obviously, I won't be finishing a book a day or really even a book a week (knowing myself). So, I will continue with the randomly written posts. But I'm also going to talk about the books.
I'll even post a list of the official canon and put the date of completion for the books (We have an unofficial canon that will be all of the books we didn't think to add before sealing the official canon; books read from the unofficial canon won't count towards massages, pedicures, and Paris) so that you at home can track my progress.
Over Christmas break or holiday break or whatever we're calling it today (like I really care what the PC term for it is; PC is such a ridiculous joke) we have four books that we're going to read. We each chose two so that it would be fair. My friend chose Nine Stories by Salinger and The Razor's Edge by Maugham. I chose Swann's Way by Proust and Tropic of Cancer by Miller. (Funny story about Tropic of Cancer...I bought my copy and took it to my grandparents' house to read. It took me a while to realize what the cover picture was. After I realized it, I put the book away so I wouldn't get into trouble. My friend noticed it right away and was almost afraid to buy the book because people in small towns talk. This has since become a running joke between us.)
I guess I'll model my talking about the books on the Rory Gilmore Books Project blog. I really wish I could devote all of my energies to a project like this. But alas! I have school and homework (always homework!).
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